Swords aren't very reliable when you're shot before getting close enough to use it on someone.A1 said:
Why the big swords anyway?
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Yep. But ironically, it is typically White Westerners that appear the most obsessesed about "phallus size" and talk about it whenever they get the chance. Perhaps it is insecurity? I wonder why ...GL2814E said:
I would think that the rule was, smaller people, smaller tackle. Fair enough.
Of course, in real life, swords of great sizes would be too impractical for use. But fiction deals with reality only seldmoly and a lot of things are greatly increased in size in fiction beacuse "bigger is better". It's not like Western fiction is any exception here. For example, you can find people wielding miniguns in Predator and Team Fortress, even though a mini-gun would be practically impossible to carry (let alone fire).
While I agree that large swords are not necessarilly "cool", Sanger Zonvolt certainly shows that they can be.
While I agree that large swords are not necessarilly "cool", Sanger Zonvolt certainly shows that they can be.
The following is a racist joke, it will be put in spoiler tags, so read at your own discresion:
Now on serious note: the reason for this is I think because its something "new" (although done to death), and has become a thing of the jprg world. I wouldn't know as I don't play them though. But yeah, that question has been bugging me for years.
Because the japanese are overcompensating 
Now on serious note: the reason for this is I think because its something "new" (although done to death), and has become a thing of the jprg world. I wouldn't know as I don't play them though. But yeah, that question has been bugging me for years.
I might run a somewhat parallel argument that America's path was forged by the gun, pretty much from the get-go. From the musket of the Revolutionary War and Civil War, to the six-gun of the Wild West, to the M1 Garand and Thompson submachine gun of World War II, to the M16A1 of Vietnam... it seems that every major era of American history can be portrayed with the silhouette of a firearm. Hence our fascination with them.UberNoodle said:
But that's getting a little off-topic.
I'm not too sure if unrealistic is a good word to use when describing this kind of weapon. Such a weapon did indeed exist in Japan at one point in real life. It's called Zanbato. I'm pretty sure that this in turn is the basis for the use of exceptionally large swords in Japanese popular culture.
And I'd say that being able to wield such a weapon effectively functions as a pretty good way of demonstrating one's strength and skill. Thus making one look all the more cool because of it.
And I'd say that being able to wield such a weapon effectively functions as a pretty good way of demonstrating one's strength and skill. Thus making one look all the more cool because of it.
I'm not too sure if unrealistic is a good word to use when describing this kind of weapon. Such a weapon did indeed exist in Japan at one point in real life. It's called Zanbato. I'm pretty sure that this in turn is the basis for the use of exceptionally large swords in Japanese popular culture.Slythernite said:{Search Bar Approved!}
{First actual thread!}
Well I've always wondered and I've decided to ask. What is so attractive about swinging around an excessively and unrealistically large sword?
JRPG's are the staple of the extremely large sword, but I ask, why? Why a large sword, when a small one would probably be less unruly? Why a sword, when guns are available, even revolvers or western guns that seem to be popular in anime.
Not only why the gigantic sword, but why the sword at all?
{This is a bit short, I realize, but I don't really know how to post those nice long ones; I don't really do the forum thing.}
And I'd say that being able to wield such a weapon effectively functions as a pretty good way of demonstrating one's strength and skill. Thus making one look all the more cool because of it.
Because anything smaller and with less weight behind it wouldn't have the raw power to cut through the ridiculously thick armour the big-bad inevitably wears. The thicker swords can also be turned to one side and used as a bullet shield (The buster sword (ff7) could probably be used as a mini wall to hide behind in an explosion).
Let's face it, swords are defunct anyway in any game approaching realistic; you have a gun for long range and then a dagger for close range. Anything bigger than a dagger is just unwieldy in close range fighting and the dagger will be able to pierce armour/slit throats just fine.
Let's face it, swords are defunct anyway in any game approaching realistic; you have a gun for long range and then a dagger for close range. Anything bigger than a dagger is just unwieldy in close range fighting and the dagger will be able to pierce armour/slit throats just fine.
Because they frighten people.. If you can wield such a mighty weapon with ease you are a serious badass. But smaller more effective swords are for me.
........
It looks cool? Do you really expect realism from a game series[footnote]Actually, I heartily dislike FF7 and much prefer both FF5 and FF6. Hell, FF12 is alright, even. The only two FF games that I consider worse than 7 are 10 and 10-2. They made me CRY they were so bad.[/footnote] that has people riding into battle on giant chickens?
And, at least in the FF games, guns are slow and unwieldy, much more damaging (they ignore damage reducers) but overall less effective than a strong bow or cross-bow user.
Personally, I prefer using Claws and Spears, but that's just me.
Please note that the above is based on several sources, none of them Wikipedia (though some were obtained through Wikipedia's citation service). If you want me to find them, I can try again, but I cleaned out my bookmarks since I last had to argue this point and I'd need to spend some time finding the sites again.
It looks cool? Do you really expect realism from a game series[footnote]Actually, I heartily dislike FF7 and much prefer both FF5 and FF6. Hell, FF12 is alright, even. The only two FF games that I consider worse than 7 are 10 and 10-2. They made me CRY they were so bad.[/footnote] that has people riding into battle on giant chickens?
And, at least in the FF games, guns are slow and unwieldy, much more damaging (they ignore damage reducers) but overall less effective than a strong bow or cross-bow user.
Personally, I prefer using Claws and Spears, but that's just me.
Actually, it's been proven that the Zanbato (or Horse-slayer) never really existed, or was never used on the battle-field. They exist merely as a touristy thing.A1 said:
No, the Masamune was a dai-katana (literally translating to "Great sword"), and a ridiculously unrealistic one at that[footnote]Not that I expect realism out of these games, but hey, whatever.[/footnote]. The nodachi was approximately half-again as long as a traditional katana, but did not have an exceptionally sharp edge. Instead, it's weight was used as a fulcrum, folding an armored enemy around the blade, usually causing massive internal damage. It had enough of an edge, however, that unarmored enemies could be cut, and its weight would carry the weapon through the swing.NameIsRobertPaulson said:
Please note that the above is based on several sources, none of them Wikipedia (though some were obtained through Wikipedia's citation service). If you want me to find them, I can try again, but I cleaned out my bookmarks since I last had to argue this point and I'd need to spend some time finding the sites again.
Sheesh, all you guys think about is the penis, isn't it?
The point of big swords are that they make great accessories; where else are you going to find such a large, flat surface upon which to make designs?
Just make it long, and attach a handle to one end. With guns, maces, and most other weapons, more has to be done for your audience to go, "Oh, that's such-and-such weapon!"
Also, it gives the character an excuse to be in close proximity to the enemy. 'Cause that's more sexy, apparently.
The point of big swords are that they make great accessories; where else are you going to find such a large, flat surface upon which to make designs?
Just make it long, and attach a handle to one end. With guns, maces, and most other weapons, more has to be done for your audience to go, "Oh, that's such-and-such weapon!"
Also, it gives the character an excuse to be in close proximity to the enemy. 'Cause that's more sexy, apparently.
A Zanbato (斬馬刀 Zanbatō?, literally "horse-slaying sword" or "horse-chopping saber"Slythernite said:{Search Bar Approved!}
{First actual thread!}
Well I've always wondered and I've decided to ask. What is so attractive about swinging around an excessively and unrealistically large sword?
JRPG's are the staple of the extremely large sword, but I ask, why? Why a large sword, when a small one would probably be less unruly? Why a sword, when guns are available, even revolvers or western guns that seem to be popular in anime.
Not only why the gigantic sword, but why the sword at all?
{This is a bit short, I realize, but I don't really know how to post those nice long ones; I don't really do the forum thing.}
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanbat%C5%8D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odachi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodachi
It's wicked cool too!
